Amazon seeking property to launch Amazon Go in the UK

Amazon has been scouring the country in search of small retail sites sparking speculation that it is preparing to bring its Amazon Go fascia to the UK.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, Amazon is looking to buy up a significant number of stores across the country of between 4000sq ft and 5000sq ft, having trademarked Amazon Go in the UK two years ago.

It is understood that the online ecommerce giant is preparing to launch its cashierless grocery store Amazon Go, which uses cameras and sensors to charge customers automatically when they place an item in their basket, in the UK for the first time.

This marks an increasing push by Amazon to break into the physical retail sphere, having acquired the grocery chain Whole Foods Market last year, including seven stores in the UK.

It has also opened four Amazon Go stores across the US since it launched in 2016, and according to Bloomberg the retailer is reportedly planning to dramatically ramp up its grocery store roll out over the next few years, aiming for around 3000 stores by 2021.

Last month Amazon also opened its first 4-star shop in New York, which sells a range of items available on the retailer’s online platform which have a four-star rating or more.